Compare towns

Newmarket vs Holderness vs Milford vs Portsmouth

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureNewmarketHoldernessMilfordPortsmouth
People
Population
9,463
1,917Lowest
16,337
22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.2±1.9
5% below NH
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
36.8±2.5Lowest
15% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±9.3
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
16.1%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.7%
NH: 40.6%
55.7%
NH: 40.6%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,845±$13k
about the NH average
$107,863±$45kHighest
9% above NH
$97,768±$14kLowest
about the NH average
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
Holderness and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$455,000±$22k
13% above NH
$363,100±$60kLowest
10% below NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,671±$69
12% above NH
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,661±$126Lowest
11% above NH
$1,869±$111
25% above NH
Holderness and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,734Highest
31% above NH
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$7,522
13% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
83.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
27 min
about the NH average
22 minLowest
17% below NH
Work from home
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 120 in NH — #55 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH
School district Newmarket School District Holderness School District Milford School District Portsmouth School District
High school in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School None in town Milford High School Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
—
10.7
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.